A family project transforms a premises into a "territory of experiences" with four zones, each with its own personality, where acoustics and light are key ingredients on the menu.
Sant Cugat, November 2025-. In a world of minimalist designs and neutral spaces, Aura Restaurant bursts onto the scene with its own character to declare that tradition can also be vibrant, colorful, and daring. This family project, which bets on Catalan cuisine with a contemporary touch, is born with a clear premise: to be the meeting point for the locals, the place where stories are told at any hour and where the space itself invites you to stay.
To bring this ambitious vision to life, the owners trusted the talent of the interior design studio PPT Interiorismo, SL. Under the premise of creating a maximalist space that put the user experience front and center, the studio has woven a "sensory journey" divided into four acts or territories, where maximalism becomes the common thread of a unique user experience.
The Four Territories of Aura: A Map of Sensations
1. The Wild Terrace: A major attraction bathed in sun all day and enveloped in a garden of wild plants. An urban oasis that connects with the Mediterranean nature.El Corazón de Mármol y Acero: 2
2. The Heart of Marble and Steel: The entrance and the bar area are the first impact. A space where the solidity of marble, the warmth of wood, and the industrial character of steel merge, creating a social magnet for waiting or having a bite.
3. The Intimate Booth: The most special area. Three group tables are housed in a comfortable setting where warm and citrus colors burst forth, dialoguing with noble woods and geometric shapes that invite conversation and complicity.
4. The Multifunctional and Playful Zone: The explosion of color and personality. Round mirrors, caramel-colored tiles, and a blue floor coexist with playful furniture. The space is crowned by a presidential table under the iconic and sculptural lamp by Ingo Maurer, a nod to designer pieces.
The Invisible Ingredients of Design: Acoustics and Lighting
Aura understands that a great restaurant is not only seen but also heard and felt. For this reason, the premises have been equipped with highly absorbent acoustics, a luxury that allows you to enjoy conversation without background noise. The lighting, designed to accompany and vary between the midday and evening service, becomes the finishing touch that modulates the atmosphere, adapting the space to the energy of each moment.
A "Gutsy" Restaurant with Soul
Aura Sant Cugat is, in short, proof that a small family restaurant can have an overwhelming personality. It is a "gutsy" project that bets on contrast, richness of textures, and Mediterranean colors to offer something more than good food: it offers a place to belong.
About Aura Sant Cugat
Aura Sant Cugat is a restaurant of traditional Catalan cuisine with a vibrant touch, located in Sant Cugat del Vallès. It was born as a family project with the aim of being a key meeting point for the local community, offering a unique gastronomic and sensory experience, both day and night.
Client: Aura Restaurant
Location: Rambla del Celler, 93, Sant Cugat del Valles
Interior Design: PPT Interiorismo, SL
Team Lead: Paula Rojas
Construction Company: Be Global
Graphic Design: Misbcn
Photography: Enric Badrinas
Furniture: Casual, Dadra y Miki Beumala
Landscaping: Asilvestrada
Art: Tato Repetto
About PPT Interiorismo:
Piedra Papel Tijera Interiorismo is a design studio founded in 2010 with the spirit of creating harmonious spaces where design contributes to quality of life, creates experiences, and is accessible to everyone. A multidisciplinary team led by Helena Puig. The Barcelona-based studio operates throughout Spain.
PPT performs equally well in the fields of hospitality, retail, or residential, where clients entrust them with colorful homes rich in materiality, away from common white, and where space-efficient layouts generate quality of life.
In Retail, PPT accompanies emerging brands in their market launch and expansion plans, creating unique and identity-defining concepts for each client. Strategy in Retail is key to improving sales and making design a great ally.
In the field of hospitality, Helena, currently the director of the Master's in Bar and Restaurant Design at the prestigious ELISAVA University, teaches classes sharing years of experience designing restaurants, bars, and cafeterias, where her background, along with that of her team, makes them experts in operations, business, and design.
